Improvement in chemical fire-extinguishers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND BreELow, on SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

iMPROVEMENT IN CHEMICAL FIR'E-EXTINGUISHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 109,576, dated November 29, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDMUND BIGELow, of Springeld, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Using Water Charged with Carbonio-Acid Gas in Putting Out Fires, sometimes called Fire-Extinguishers57 and I declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, aud to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in so arranging and combining the parts of apparatus for using water charged with carbonicacid gas in putting out res, and having a stationary reservoir for the acid within the body of the apparatus, that both the reservoir and the body of the apparatus ay be charged and discharged without the necessity for removing the cap, top, or cover ofthe extinguisher, and that the outlet from the reservoir for acid into the body of the apparatus may be always securely closed, except when opened by the operator.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I describe its construction and operation.

Figure I in the accompanying drawing is a perpendicular section of the extinguisher, showing the reservoir for acid in position. Fig. II is a view of the interior of the acidreservoir from above, showing the valve-seat E at the bottom.

In Fig. I, A A isthe main body of the extinguisher, which holds the water and alkali or alkaline solution. B is the high-water gage, placed at the height to which the body should be illed. C C is the cap, which covers the top m l511e body of the extinguisher, and is represented in the drawing as being circular in its general form and somewhat raised in the center. This particular shape, however, is not essential. D D is the acidreservoir, the lip of which is m'ade with a flange, so as to lit a shoulder made in the material of the top of the body of the extinguisher around the opening in the top, which is covered by the cap C. E is a valve-seat in the lower end of this reservoir, into which lits accurately a valve, F, worked by means of a stem, G Gr, on which is raised a screw-thread,

and which-passes up through the center of the cap C, and through the screw-threaded yoke K, and terminates in the wheel H. L L

is a pipe opening into the body of the extinguisher, ata point above the high-water gage, and through the cap C into the reservoir for acid. M is a screw tightly tting an opening into the reservoir for acid through the cap C. A collar covered by a cap would answer the same purpose. N is a collar opening into the body of the extinguisher and covered with a cap. O is a flat metallic disk, which nearly fills a cross-section of the body of the extinguisher, and is turned by a crank from the outside, for the purpose of agitating the e011- tents and effecting a complete mingling of the gas and water. P is the discharge-valve, to which the hose is attached.

My invention, however, does not relate to the arrangement of the agitator or the dis-9 charge pipe or hose.

The reservoir for acid may be made of any convenient form, but should taper toward its lower end, in order to afford a good valve-seat, and facilitate the regulating of thedischargc of the acid into the water in the vbody of the extinguisher, and should have its inner face made of lead, or some other suitable material capable of resisting the action of the acid employed, and should be of such depth as not to extend down to the level of the high-water gage. It is placed in position just within the top of the body of the extinguisher, and supported by the ange at its lip on the shoulder in the top, which tlange is of such thickness that its upper surface is level with the upper surface of the top, on which the cap is to rest. The cap C, with the yoke K attached, is fastened to the top of the body of the extinguisher by screws or by any means which may be thought better. I prefer screws.

The valve-stem is then passed down through the lyoke K till the valve F ts firmly andA closely into its seat E.

The acid-reservoir is then filled or supplied with the proper quantity of acid throughvthe opening which is made by removing the screw M. The opening is then closed by returning the screw M to its proper position.

The body of the extinguisher is supplied withv the proper quantity of water and alkali,

or alkaline solution, through the opening made by removing the cap from the collar N. This opening is then closed by replacing the cap upon the collar.

When the acid-reservoir is made With its inner surface of material able to resist the action of the acid, the extinguisher may be kept for an indefinite period supplied with both acid and alkaline solution ready for use Whenever the occasion should arise.

When the extinguisher is Wanted for use, the valve F is opened by turning the wheel H, the acid passes gradually, if desired, or suddenly, depending on the regulation of the valve F by the operator, into the alkaline solution, and the gas is produced, and the apparatus is ready for use.

The communication between the body of the extinguisher and the acid-reservoir by means ofthe pipe L L equalizes the pressure in the reservoir and the body of the extinguisher.

The power to admit the acid to the alkaline solution gradually is of great importance, because it saves the apparatus from the extra pressure which is produced by the too sudden evolution of a great body of gas.

I do not claim the Valve described in the Carlier and Vi gnou patent, nor the rubberpacked valve, nor the spout described in Enno Sanderss patent; but

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination, in apparatus for using Water charged with carbonio-acid gas in putting out re, of the air tight reservoir for acid D, in a fixed position within the body of the apparatus, with the valve-seat E, the valve F, the stem Gr G, with a screw-thread raised thereon, the cap C, the screw-threaded yoke K, the Wheel H, the equalizing pipe L L, and the screw M.

2. The combination, in {ire-extinguishers for using Water charged with carbonio-acid gas, of the body or tank A, the reservoir for acid D, fixed within Vthe tank, the high-Water gage B, and the collar N, with its cap, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

i f EDMUN D BIGELOW.

W'itnesses:

EDMUND BIGELoW, Jr. G. W. BIGELOW. 

